CLEVELAND, TX -- Thirteen adults and five juveniles have been arrested as part of an investigation into the alleged rape of an 11-year old girl.
Darrell Broussard, assistant police chief for the Cleveland, Texas, Police Department, said Monday that the investigation into the incident "is continuous," with more significant developments possible.
Cleveland is about 50 miles northeast of Houston.
"There have been leads during our investigation that have alerted us to other possible persons of interest," Broussard said.
"The investigation is ongoing."
The assistant chief said that the 18 individuals charged thus far are between 14 and 27 years old.
On Friday, the Cleveland Police Department announced that four students in the Cleveland Independent School District had been arrested on charges of aggravated sexual assault of a child under 14.
They appeared Monday in a Liberty County court, in the town of Liberty, to face the charges.
Mike Little, the district attorney in Liberty County, said police would likely decide whether more people would be charged. He offered few other details, saying, "We are very careful about pretrial publicity."
The incident allegedly happened late last year in Cleveland, and the case has sharply divided the community, according to CNN affiliate KHOU, which reported that the girl was 11 years old.
"It just seems like a dream," said a Cleveland resident who told reporters her 20-year-old son is among those accused.
"I just hope everything comes out well, because some of these kids are innocent."
Darrell Broussard, assistant police chief for the Cleveland, Texas, Police Department, said Monday that the investigation into the incident "is continuous," with more significant developments possible.
Cleveland is about 50 miles northeast of Houston.
"There have been leads during our investigation that have alerted us to other possible persons of interest," Broussard said.
"The investigation is ongoing."
The assistant chief said that the 18 individuals charged thus far are between 14 and 27 years old.
On Friday, the Cleveland Police Department announced that four students in the Cleveland Independent School District had been arrested on charges of aggravated sexual assault of a child under 14.
They appeared Monday in a Liberty County court, in the town of Liberty, to face the charges.
Mike Little, the district attorney in Liberty County, said police would likely decide whether more people would be charged. He offered few other details, saying, "We are very careful about pretrial publicity."
The incident allegedly happened late last year in Cleveland, and the case has sharply divided the community, according to CNN affiliate KHOU, which reported that the girl was 11 years old.
"It just seems like a dream," said a Cleveland resident who told reporters her 20-year-old son is among those accused.
"I just hope everything comes out well, because some of these kids are innocent."
